Detective Ali Perez and Sgt. Craig Johnson had arrived at the unit inside the Maplewood Apartments to confront Witczak about photos discovered on the suspect's cell phone.

A girlfriend accuses Witczak of taking pornographic images of her elementary-school-aged daughters with the intent to sell them for profit.

Lakeside Shooting in Images

Both deputies were injured in the shooting. Perez was listed in critical condition in the ICU at Sharp Memorial Hospital Wednesday morning. Johnson underwent surgery for a gunshot wound to the arm and was expected to survive officials said. Get update on injured deputies

Witczak was also wounded in the gunfight and was hospitalized at Scripps Mercy Hospital. There has been no update on his condition.

The suspect’s uncle, Albert Witczak, said he and his wife are in disbelief about their nephew’s involvement.

The Wisconsin couple has been staying up to date on the deputies’ conditions through online news reports.

“These people put their lives on the line every minute of the day. And for something like this to happen, especially with my nephew, it’s totally unacceptable,” said Albert Witczak. “It’s just devastating.”

Dan Witczak moved to San Diego with a friend to get out of Oshkosh, Wisconsin the uncle said.

Dan has at least one felony in his criminal past that was drug related and he wasn’t supposed to have a weapon his uncle told NBC 7 San Diego.

He recalls a troubled past for his nephew that included medication for a mental disorder but said he had never heard of any accusations of sexual misconduct.

When asked what he would say to his nephew if given the chance, Albert said, “’What were you thinking, dude?’”

NBC 7 San Diego has learned that Witczak was detained in August for domestic violence, but did not appear in court.

The couple had been dating a year Witczak's girlfriend told NBC 7 San Diego. He had been employed as a mechanic, but has been out of work for a week and a half.

Former employer Dustin LaFountaine of Amp Auto in Santee said Witczak was let go after a week of work because he was "unreliable."

"Seeing that he had a couple of kids that what we wanted to let him make a couple of bucks but he came in and didn't show us what he was capable of doing, so then again I saw we had to let him go," he said.

Witczak's girlfriend said the suspect kept three guns in their apartment and says he struggled with substance abuse.